Shawn Christ

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  • President Barack Obama and Family Visit Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder During Hawaiian Vacation

    President Barack Obama took some time off from running the country to vacation with his family in Hawaii. Toward the end of the trip, the Obamas stopped by Eddie Vedder's pad in Kailua to visit the Pearl Jam frontman and his family. The First Family spent less than 30 minutes with the rocker and his clan, the Associated Press reports.Vedder has been a supporter of Obama since 2007, when the politician announced he would be running for president. The singer used his position as a public figure in Pearl Jam to criticize the George W. Bush administration — see "Bushleaguer" below.The iconic frontman showed up to a fundraiser for the president in 2012 prior to Obama winning his second candidacy. Vedder talked about how a government security job helped him reach his dream of becoming a professional musician."It was that job which allowed me to keep affording guitars and microphones," he said, "Rolling Stone" notes. "For me, it all began with that ability to get the proper training for a decent job.""For you to share that story with us, Eddie, speaks volumes not only about you but about this country," Obama responded. "That story captures better than anything what this campaign is about and what this country is about."

  • Guns N' Roses Bassist Duff McKagan to Release New Book 'How to Be a Man (and Other Illusions)' in May

    As bassist for Guns N' Roses, once dubbed "the most dangerous band in the world," Duff McKagan has done some serious living. The artist has never been shy about his decadent years - he released a tell-all memoir, It's So Easy and Other Lies, in 2012. The bassist is planning a new book based on some of the columns he wrote over a five-year period for the Seattle Weekly. How to Be a Man (and Other Illusions) is due out May 12.

  • Mark Ronson Talks Amy Winehouse, 'Uptown Funk' Success in New Interview Ahead of 'Uptown Special' Release

    Mark Ronson gave the public a small taste of his upcoming fourth album "Uptown Special" with the single "Uptown Funk" featuring Bruno Mars. The pair performed the tune on "Saturday Night Live" at the end of 2014, and it even climbed to No. 1 on the United Kingdom's singles chart and No. 2 on "Billboard's" Hot 100. The musician/producer took some time to reflect on his year with "The Guardian" as well as one of his favorite collaborators, Amy Winehouse.While he was in the studio working on the new album, due out later this month and which features guest spots by Stevie Wonder, Ronson claimed his health declined due to his exhaustive work effort. In one instance, he even fainted."We did 45 takes of it and I just couldn't get it, it sounded like horrible bulls--t, so we went to lunch, walked down to a restaurant. Everyone was saying: 'Dude, what's wrong with you? You've gone totally white.' Because I was going on pretending everything was just fine; you don't want to admit that you're just not there, you're not where you want to be. And I went to the toilet and just ... fainted. I threw up, and fainted. They had to come and carry me out of the toilet," he said.The album will be a follow-up to his 2010 release "Record Collection." Ronson has kept busy in recent years, working on albums by Paul McCartney, Rufus Wainwright and Mars. Still, Ronson's greatest contribution to pop music might be Winehouse's groundbreaking 2006 release "Back to Black."

  • St. Vincent Talks About David Bowie and Artistic Authenticity at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art [WATCH]

    David Bowie's influence on popular music has had a lasting effect on numerous artists over the years. There is no other act from 2014 that carries on Bowie's chameleon spirit like St. Vincent's Annie Clark, though. The artist's fourth, self-titled album was a big hit, and Clark stopped by Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art to discuss Bowie's influence.As "Consequence of Sound" points out, the MCA has hosted a special exhibit titled "David Bowie Is" since September. It features more than 300 items from the artist's personal collection, and the museum has also hosted live events in addition to the exhibit. Clark talked about some of her own career experiences before launching into Bowie."I am curious to unpack this idea of authenticity," Clark says in the video below, "and when did it become more authentic to just stand onstage with no lights or costume or theatricality and just stand up there with a beard and your feelings? Bowie's heroes were people like Little Richard who did '50s queerness with a wink and a smile because that was all that was palatable for the time."

  • The Band Perry Is Working with 'Little Red Wagon' Writer Audra Mae for Follow-Up to 'Pioneer'

    The Band Perry recently opened up about their new album, the follow-up to 2013's "Pioneer." The siblings are bringing in up-and-coming songwriter Audra Mae to help out on the record. Mae is known for writing Miranda Lambert's tune "Little Red Wagon." She also collaborated with The Forest Rangers a few times for FX's "Sons of Anarchy" in addition to her solo material.According to Taste of Country, Kimberly Perry called into iHeartRadio's Electric Barnyard with Broadway show to talk about the progress."[It's] goin' great, you know," she said. "We're slowly but surely recording band here in the Band Perry. I'd say we have about half of it done. It'll definitely — you guys will have new music certainly in the first half of 2015."The trio is especially excited to co-write tunes with Mae."We have interesting things happening and, you know, the co-writes are one thing that we're really excited about as well," Kimberly added. "A new girl that's been here in Nashville writing, her name is Audra Mae, she's a very spirited young lady. So we've just made a lot of new writing friendships and can't wait for you guys to hear it."

  • Run the Jewels Song Plays in ESPN Commercial for NFL Playoff Game [WATCH]

    Run the Jewels received more national attention this weekend when ESPN aired a promo for yesterday, Jan. 3's NFL playoff game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals. The commercial features players from both teams getting psyched for the game while the band's lead single from their self-titled debut plays, "Deadspin" notes.Killer Mike and El-P had a big year in 2014. The duo dropped its second studio album, "Run the Jewels 2," in October. It hit No. 50 on the "Billboard 200" behind singles like "Blockbuster Pt. 1," "Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)" and "Close Your Eyes (And Count to F--k)." The effort topped year-end lists by tons of media outlets."On their second album as Run the Jewels, noise-loving Brooklyn rapper-producer El-P and Atlanta's Killer Mike make the most explosive hip-hop you'll hear all year. The best tracks give criminal-minded menace a radical edge: 'Close Your Eyes (And Count to F--k)' is a prison-riot fantasy, and on the blazing 'All Due Respect,' Mike hints at the roots of his messed-up ways," "Rolling Stone" wrote, giving the album four out of five stars.

  • Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest and Motörhead to Tour After Monsters of Rock Festival in April

    Some of heavy metal's biggest names are reportedly joining forces for a tour this spring. Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest and Motörhead have confirmed one date in Brazil directly following the Monsters of Rock Festival in April. According to the production company Hits Entretenimento, the three acts will hit the road on the Monsters Tour, Pollstar reports.Osbourne will headline the festival April 25 in addition to Motörhead, Black Veil Brides, Rival Sons, Coal Chamber and Primal Fear. Kiss is slated for the headline spot the following day with Manowar, Accept, Unisonic, Yngwie Malmsteen and Steel Panther. Judas Priest will join in on both days.The first date of the Monsters Tour is April 30 at Porto Alegre's Zequinha Stadium. No further dates have been announced.Previously, the Prince of Darkness has linked up with both acts. He shared the bill with Judas Priest at a concert in Canada in 2008. Lemmy and the boys joined Osbourne on the Blizzard of Ozz tour in the early 1980s, Ultimate Classic Rock notes.

  • Duff McKagan Talks Record Biz, Says Guns N' Roses Label Still Stiffs Him on Royalties [LISTEN]

    Duff McKagan stopped by Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta's podcast recently to talk about his time with Guns N' Roses. The bassist explained some of the financial aspects of the iconic rock band, like the difficulty of getting royalties nowadays and how much the group was paid for its exhaustive, two-year "Use Your Illusion" jaunt in the 1990s. According to Blabbermouth, McKagan has some issues with his former record company.The GN'R back catalog, which includes "Appetite for Destruction" and both "Use Your Illusion" albums, belongs to Universal Music Group. With hits like "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child O' Mine," the collection nets the company plenty of dough, but the musicians responsible for the songs are not as lucky."It's, like, the second biggest catalog item they have. It sells. In 1994, I'd just gotten sober and I was kind of figuring some stuff out. And our lawyer said, 'We're gonna audit Geffen,' audit our record company. Before that, I lived in this sort of fantasy world that they were our partner in this thing," he said. "We were going out and attacking the world together. Well, they didn't pay us on something like 6 million records. Six million records! That's what we found."

  • Brad Paisley Remembers Little Jimmy Dickens with Touching Tribute Post on Website

    In a post titled "Saying Goodbye to My Hero," Brad Paisley paid tribute to country legend Little Jimmy Dickens, who recently died at age 94. The "Whiskey Lullaby" singer opened for the Grand Ole Opry star when he was starting out in the music business. Dickens was also a favorite guest at the CMAs in recent years, clowning around with Paisley as he hosted alongside Carrie Underwood."Why was he my hero? Jimmy made more out of his time on earth than anyone I've ever known; an incredible life in every measurable way," Paisley wrote on his website. "Longevity? Yes, practically unheard of. Faith? Totally and wholeheartedly. Humor? There was no one funnier, or with a better sense of it."Paisley called Dickens the best entertainer he has ever seen, adding that "he was the best friend any human being could ask for. Bar none.""Love? This was a big one. I think he loved everyone he ever met, and if not, he never let it be known. More importantly, I think everyone who ever met him loved him instantly...and forever," he wrote.Dickens was known for hits like "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" and "Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)," which earned him the nickname "Tater" from buddy Hank Williams.

  • ESPN's Stuart Scott Dead at 49: 'SportsCenter' Anchor Remembered as Inspiration Following Cancer Battle

    Longtime ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, who had been battling cancer since 2007, succumbed to the disease earlier today, Jan. 4, at age 49. Scott was a mainstay on the sports network, which he joined in 1993, sharing his signature phrase "as cool as the other side of the pillow" and relentless energy with a national audience that loved the commentator. The ESPN community shared their memories of the beloved anchor after the news broke."ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott," ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement. "Who engages in mixed-martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments? Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set? His energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced."Scott was brought to the network in the early 1990s to help carry the ESPN2 brand. His style spoke to a younger generation, making the anchor a quick fan favorite on the network's flagship program, "SportsCenter." He reported on the MLB playoffs, NBA Finals and the Final Four in addition to sitting down with sports legends like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. He also shined in the network's hilarious commercial spots.

  • Paul Simon Being Sued for Unpaid Bill by Accountant Who Stole from Him in Ponzi Scheme

    Paul Simon's former accountant is suing the singer for unpaid services to the tune of $17,174, TMZ reports. That's a pretty low blow considering that the accountant, Kenneth Ira Starr, stole millions from clients like Simon, Al Pacino and Liam Neeson. A trustee reviewing Starr's case is trying to find money to pay creditors off, and he apparently found an unpaid bill from Simon's estate.

  • Little Jimmy Dickens Dead at 94, Country Artists React to Oldest Grand Ole Opry Star's Death [PHOTOS]

    Grand Ole Opry legend Little Jimmy Dickens has died. The country singer was hospitalized for a stroke on Dec. 25, six days after turning 94. Dickens performed right up until the end of his life, gracing the Opry stage on Dec. 20 for a big birthday bash. As Rolling Stone Country points out, the singer was best known for comedic tunes like "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" and "Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)."

  • Kevin Spacey, Tony Bennett and Boyz II Men Honor Billy Joel for Library of Congress Special [WATCH]

    An all-star lineup showed up to pay tribute to Billy Joel in November and the PBS special aired last night (Jan. 2). The singer-songwriter received the prestigious Gershwin Prize for Popular Song by the Library of Congress. Boyz II Men, Kevin Spacey and Tony Bennett performed a few choice numbers while LeAnn Rimes, Josh Groban and Natalie Maines also joined in on the celebration. Joel took the stage for some of his tunes as well.

  • Master P and Lil Wayne Working Together on 'Power' Track, No Limit Forever and Cash Money Mending Relationship? [LISTEN]

    Master P has big plans for 2015. The No Limit Forever founder released a clip recently where he raps on a new track featuring Lil Wayne titled "Power." Master P plans on including the tune on his upcoming mixtape, AllHipHop notes. The collaboration may serve as a peace treaty of sorts between Master P's No Limit brand and Cash Money, which famously beefed during the 1990s. It could also be a sign of P moving in on Weezy, who has been critical of Birdman and the YMCMB.

  • Jim Rome's Disrespectful Marching Band Tweet During Sugar Bowl Starts Social Media Frenzy with #MarchOnRome

    Jim Rome instantly became the enemy of every marching band in the world after posting one disrespectful tweet. The CBS Sports Radio personality made a generalization of members, calling them "dorks" and sparking immediate backlash via social media with #MarchOnRome. The Washington Post picked up on the tweet, which has since been deleted, during the Ohio State-Alabama Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

  • The Beatles Engineer Glyn Johns Calls 'Let It Be' Album 'A Bunch of Garbage'

    Glyn Johns, a sound engineer and producer who has worked with The Rolling Stones, The Clash and The Band, is promoting a new book titled Sound Man. Back in November, an excerpt of the book made headlines after it was revealed that Bob Dylan wanted to record an album with The Stones and The Beatles. Johns, who also worked with the Fab Four, talked to The New York Times about his experience with the group's final album, Let It Be. Even with tunes like "Across the Universe," "The Long and Winding Road" and "Get Back," Johns labeled the record "a bunch of garbage."

  • Selena Gomez Criticized for Showing Her Ankle in a Mosque on Recent Trip to Abu Dhabi, Deletes Instagram Post

    Selena Gomez showed off her ankle in a mosque during her recent trip to Abu Dhabi, which has led to some criticism from the Muslim community. Cody Simpson and Kendall Jenner were on hand with the rest of Gomez's entourage. They were seen laughing and smiling in another picture posted to Instagram. It is considered a sign of disrespect by Muslims to show off a bare ankle and laugh or smile in a mosque, "Billboard" notes.Gomez deleted the picture of her exposed ankle, but the group shot is still on Instagram. It was taken at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Check it out below.The photos have sparked a conversation on respecting beliefs and insensitivity toward other cultures."Yeah I'm Muslim, and selena I love you so much but you may want to open your wrists at the mosque," one comment reads. "Photos interesting. I'm Muslim and I respect every religion. After saw this photo I feel so bad. Everyone has their own religious if not everyone is obliged to respect your religion. I'm Muslim and I respect christian to otherwise you're ignorant and disrespectful!!"Gomez and her camp have yet to respond to the photos.

  • Macklemore Confirms New Album on Twitter, Assures Fans That 'The Heist' Follow-Up Will Be Out in 2015

    It looks like 2015 will be a good year for Macklemore fans. Although nothing official has been announced, the "Thrift Shop" rapper recently responded to a comment on Twitter asking about new music. Mack responded by telling the follower that new material will be out this year, "XXL" notes. The release will be the follow-up to 2012's smash hit "The Heist."RT @loucereal: Its 2015 and I still don't have a new @macklemore album wtf <- you will this year. Believe that — Macklemore (@macklemore) January 1, 2015This is big news for fans who have been patiently waiting around for new Macklemore music. "The Heist" propelled the rapper and collaborator Ryan Lewis to stardom following a slew of hits like "Same Love," "Can't Hold Us" and "Thrift Shop." The effort went straight to No. 1 on multiple charts, but peaked at No. 2 on the "Billboard" 200."It's these sort of astute observations on the human condition and keen self-awareness that set this effort apart. That reality, coupled with Ryan Lewis' vast, daring and layered production, makes "The Heist" a truly beautiful album that challenges musical boundaries," "XXL" wrote about the album.Mack recently stopped by Ebro in the Morning to talk about being a white artist in the hip-hop realm.

  • Brian Johnson of AC/DC Joins Billy Joel for 'You Shook Me All Night Long' at New Year's Eve Gig [WATCH]

    Billy Joel rang in the New Year at the Amway Center in Florida, saving one big surprise for midnight. AC/DC's Brian Johnson joined the New York native on stage for a heavy rendition of his band's classic "You Shook Me All Night Long." The crowd could not have been happier.Joel got up from his piano for this one and slung a guitar around his body for the 1980 tune from "Back in Black." Johnson howls in the clip below, via Ultimate Classic Rock, as Joel and his band play a spot-on cover. The crowd freaks out at the end of the song, knowing too well that they just witnessed two of rock's best slay an awesome song.Previously, Johnson stopped by Madison Square Garden in March to perform the tune with Joel. The Piano Man also took on "Highway to Hell" in August with Dead Daisies frontman Jon Stevens.Everyone in the rock realm seems to be showing some love for AC/DC as of late. Gov't Mule collaborated with Slash and Myles Kennedy New Year's Eve on an entire set made famous by the Australian rockers. The setlist included "Shoot to Thrill," "T.N.T." and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." Check it out here.
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